March 31 marks the end of the six-month enrollment period for individuals to enroll in health coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The Cover Missouri Coalition - a Missouri Foundation for Health group of more than 300 individuals across the state - has added several enrollment events to its schedule as a push to get more Missourians enrolled in health insurance by the end of the month.
The Health Insurance Marketplace is part of President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act. The law requires everyone to have health insurance in 2014 or otherwise pay a penalty.
Depending on income, household size and age, an individual may be eligible for subsidies to help offset the cost of insurance in the Marketplace.
Local events - where certified application counselors will be available to answer questions and assist with enrollment in the Marketplace - include:
Central Missouri Community Action, Callaway Electric Cooperative
9 a.m.-6 p.m. March 14
1313 Cooperative Drive, Fulton
To schedule an appointment, contact Rita Ivy at 573-424-4156.
Central Missouri Community Action, First United Methodist Church
3-7 p.m. March 26
201 Monroe St., Jefferson City
To schedule an appointment, contact Rita Ivy at 573-424-4156.
Prairie Hills Katy Trail
Community Health Center
9 a.m.-6 p.m. March 29
112 N. Highway 5, Versailles
To schedule an appointment, call 660-287-7702.
By the end of February, 4.2 million people had signed up for coverage. The Obama Administration's goal at the start of enrollment last October was to get 7 million people signed up for health insurance by the March 31 deadline.
"Now, during this final month of open enrollment our message to the American people is this: you still have time to get covered, but you'll want to sign up today - the deadline is March 31," Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.
If you sign up for health insurance in the Marketplace by March 31, your coverage will begin May 1.
Melissa Magaña, outreach and enrollment specialist for Katy Trail Community Health in Versailles, said people are finally realizing that the March 31 deadline is near.
"It's not going away," she said.
She thinks enrollment figures will come close to 7 million.
"People really have nothing to lose," she said about enrollment. "They can gain the truth and and the facts. From there, they'll see if they qualify for cost savings."
For more information about the Cover Missouri Coalition or for a complete list of enrollment events, visit www.covermissouri.org.